PLASMA BIOLOGY EXPLAINED
PRP, exosomes and
the plasma secretome.
They describe different parts of the same biological picture. Understanding the distinction helps clinicians interpret a preparation, its measurements and the evidence behind it.
Start with the patient’s plasma.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a plasma preparation enriched in platelets. Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) contains fewer platelets, but it remains a source of plasma proteins and circulating signals. The composition of both fractions depends on the patient and the preparation method.
In the exosmart workflow, PRP and PPP are collected together after centrifugation. Hollow-fibre ultrafiltration then reduces the fluid volume, concentrating retained components in the same preparation.
How the exosmart system works
What are exosomes?
Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicle formed through the cell’s endosomal system. Extracellular vesicles, or EVs, are particles enclosed by a lipid bilayer and released by cells. Their cargo can include proteins, lipids and RNA.
Size alone does not establish that a particle is an exosome. MISEV2023 recommends using the broader term “extracellular vesicles” when a specific cellular origin has not been demonstrated. This distinction matters when comparing studies or interpreting laboratory reports.
The exosmart preparation contains platelet and plasma components together; it is not an isolated exosome product.
Read the MISEV2023 recommendationsOur Complete Autologous Plasma Secretome approach.
Vesicles, platelets, soluble signals, carrier and regulatory proteins, and matrix-forming proteins — brought together in one preparation from the patient’s own blood.
We use Complete Autologous Plasma Secretome to describe this five-layer approach. The term expresses the biological concept; it does not mean that every molecule is retained or that all components have the same recovery. Membrane permeability and the preparation protocol influence the final composition.
exosmart adds concentration after plasma separation. A nominal workflow takes approximately 30 mL of combined PRP and PPP to approximately 6 mL of preparation. The 3–5 minute timing applies to the concentration step, not the whole clinical visit.
Explore the preparation workflowWhat do the laboratory measurements tell us?
Different methods answer different questions. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) reports particle concentration and size distribution. In a mixed plasma preparation, its particle count must not be presented as an exosome count. Microscopy and EV-associated marker testing provide complementary structural and molecular information.
Growth-factor assays describe another part of the preparation. On our Science page, each result is presented with its method, sample information and relevant qualification so that the numbers can be interpreted in context.
Review the laboratory findingsWhere does this fit in regenerative medicine?
Clinicians investigating autologous plasma approaches need to connect biological rationale with evidence for a specific indication and protocol. Laboratory characterisation describes a preparation; clinical studies assess outcomes. Evidence for one preparation or workflow should not automatically be transferred to another.
Our specialty pages bring together the biological rationale, clinical observations and educational resources for orthopaedics, dermatology and hair restoration. The Science page identifies the designs and protocols of the studies presented.
Sources and further reading
Welsh JA et al. Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023). Journal of Extracellular Vesicles. 2024;13:e12404. doi:10.1002/jev2.12404.
For exosmart-specific analytical reports and study details, see Science & evidence. Educational content from exosmart. Updated 29 October 2026.